getting ready to bisque.....and Red happens

It's been taking a very long time for things to dry out, but I finally have enough to bisque fire today.  I figured with the dry winter air I might have a problem with pots drying too fast, but I guess the basement always stays a little damp.

Some salt pigs and a utensil holder in the kiln today.  Pots were piling up in my basement workspace.  Usually when they are almost dry I transfer them to a shelf next to the kiln in the garage.  With some nights dipping down to the teens recently I was afraid to do that.  If there is still visible moisture and the temp goes to freezing seems like things could go wrong, as in expansion.  I've never taken a thermometer down there.  Since the garage is mostly underground maybe I'm safe.

French butter crocks, also in the kiln.  Actually one crock and 3 lids.  I have some extra crocks due to the tendency the lids have to develop hairline cracks.  Hence the extra lids. 

Not ready to fire- some nesting bowls and a set of soup bowls.  I'll be heading down to trim some of these this afternoon. 

Red happens.  Found this mess this morning.  I leave my slip bucket to set overnight on my wheel so the water will separate enough to pour out,  then I'll recycle the slip into clay. Red, the cat, loves to watch anything liquid move across the floor.  He, in fact, finds it hugely entertaining.  Used to tip his water bowl over every day until I got a tip proof bowl.  I've learned not to leave small glaze containers on my table and I had been hiding my slip bucket from him.  Lately, I thought I could get away with just covering it with a towel.  It worked...for a couple of weeks.  

The guilty party.

Here's what happens to the slip, trimmings, etc.  I'm using a rack that used to dry out bath toys.  The very wet clay is slopped onto a piece of canvass and left to dry to the consistency of usable clay.  Then, because I don't have a pug mill, I double bag it with plastic grocery bags and slam the heck out of it. The idea being to de-air it as much as possible. That doesn't get me out of wedging, but it helps make it easier. 

a litte cat, a little stamp, a little snow

Miss Billy was intently watching my carving efforts before she became distracted by the blinking light on the camera.

I decided to make a new cookie stamp form.  I wanted one that would be sort of springish.  This form, if it works out, will be what the cookie looks like.  I'll use this as a mold to make the cookie stamps.  It has a depressed center for filling with jam. 

Been years since I've made a new stamp. It actually took most of an afternoon to do this, sad to say.  It seems working small can be as difficult as working large. Once it's done, though, assuming it is successful, I can use it to make many stamps.  Making sure there are no edges to catch on the dough is the most time consuming part. 

  

 

 A little snow. I've been disappointed with our lack of snowfall so far. I've always enjoyed hiking the trails after a good snow. This last snow just barely covered the ground.     

studio cat

Sometimes Red just has to be part of the process.  Yesterday I left the basement for a minute and when I came back I found him checking out the project I was working on.

This wreath was precariously perched on my wheel, as my work table is taken up with bisqueware.  Also notice it has become a temporary holder for my glaze notebook.  I quickly moved the wreath to a safer place.  I already dropped and broke a star myself.  Don't need more help with that. 

I used the wreath to display these stars.  I sold all but one today at the market, but have a few more I hope to fire this week. The market was busy today. My next firing will be the last one before Christmas- hint, hint.   

What?  Is there a problem?  Red can be quite persistent when he wants to be a studio buddy.